There were no huge upsets in the first week of play in the Brooklyn District but there were a few close calls.
Holy Name, the #4 seed, found themselves tied, 2-2, early in the third period against #11 North Olmsted, but the Namers’ skill took over in the third period of a 6-3 win.
It took double-overtime, but #6 Strongsville got past Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League Red Division rival Benedictine, the #9 seed, 5-4.
Avon Lake, a GCGSHL White Division team, knocked out Padua Franciscan of the Great Lakes Hockey League, but the Shoremen (4-3 winners) went into that game as the higher seed so no upset to see here.
The only game that could be considered an upset would be Lakewood’s 2-1 win over GCHSHL White South champ and #12 seed Parma. Lakewood is the #14 seed and a member of the Blue North Division, but the Rangers won 21 games this year and the teams were seeded closely, so it is a relatively minor upset.
Lakewood was rewarded with a chance to play neighbor St. Edward on Sunday. They were eliminated, 11-0.
That’s 10 games and one instance of a lower seed advancing.
The Brooklyn District utilizes mid-week quarterfinal games, so we will see the following match-ups followed by a pair of district semifinal games on Saturday afternoon:
Tuesday, February 25:
5:30 p.m. #1 Saint Ignatius vs. #10 Olmsted Falls
8:00 p.m. #5 Amherst Steele vs. #6 Strongsville
Wednesday, February 26:
5:30 p.m. #2 St. Edward vs. #4 Holy Name
8:00 p.m. #3 Rocky River vs. #7 Avon Lake